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Military Geography is by its very nature an applied field of study. It is not only relevant to conflict situations but plays a role in peacetime and support and stability operations (including environmental considerations) and as such has a wide range of challenges for which it must find solutions. However, Military Geography as an academic field remains small in South Africa with only a single tertiary institution offering it as an undergraduate study. Despite its small size, Military Geography remains important in terms of education and as a research avenue. We outline developments in Military Geography with a focus on the South African context and provide an outline of the recent publications in the field. We also highlight current trends in both education and research directions and provide a future outlook of the field in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The MOZAIC Capacitive Hygrometer (MCH) is usually operated aboard passenger aircraft in the framework of MOZAIC (Measurement of Ozone by Airbus In-Service Aircraft) for measuring atmospheric relative humidity (RH). In order to evaluate the performance of the MCH, the instrument was operated aboard a Learjet 35A research aircraft as part of the CIRRUS-III field study together with a closed-cell Lyman- fluorescence hygrometer (Fast in situ Stratospheric Hygrometer, or FISH) and an open-path tunable diode laser system (Open-path Jülich Stratospheric TDL ExpeRiment, or OJSTER) for water vapour measurement. After reducing the CIRRUS-III data set to data corresponding to MOZAIC aircraft operation conditions, the 1 Hz RH data cross correlation between the MCH and reference instruments FISH (clear sky) and OJSTER (in-cirrus) yielded a remarkably good agreement of R2 D0.92 and slope mD1.02 and provided a MCH uncertainty of 5% RH. Probability distribution functions of RH deduced from the MCH and reference instruments agreed well between 10 and 70% RH with respect to liquid water in the ambient temperature range of ca. -70 to -40 °C. The use of MCH data is limited to sensor temperatures above the calibration limit of Tsensor =-40 °C (corresponds to ambient temperature of Tambient =-70 °C at typical cruising speed of long-haul passenger aircraft). Good performance of the MCH for clear sky as well as for in-cirrus conditions demonstrated the sensor robustness alsofor operation inside ice clouds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MOZAIC Capacitive Hygrometer (MCH) is usually operated onboard of passenger aircraft in the framework of MOZAIC (Measurement of Ozone by AIRBUS In-Service Aircraft). In order to evaluate the performance of the MCH, it was operated aboard a Learjet 35A aircraft as part of the CIRRUS-III field study together with a closed-cell Lyman-α fluorescence hygrometer (FISH) and an open path tunable diode laser system (OJSTER) for water vapour measurement. After reducing the data set to MOZAICrelevant conditions, the 1Hz relative humidity (RH) cross correlation between MCH and reference instruments FISH (clear sky) and OJSTER (in-cirrus) yielded a remarkably good agreement of R² = 0.97 and slope m = 0.96 and provided the MCH uncertainty of 5% RH. Probability distribution functions of RH deduced from MCH and reference instruments agreed well over the entire range of observations. The main limitation for the use of MCH data is related to sensor temperatures below the calibration limit of Tsensor = -40°C (corresponds to ambient temperature of Tambient = -70°C at typical cruising speed of long-haul passenger aircraft), which causes a delay in the sensor's time response. Good performance of MCH for clear sky as well as for in-cirrus conditions demonstrated the sensor robustness also for operation inside ice clouds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Thoracophoracarus K. Viets is described from South Korea. This genus was previously known only from the Afrotropical and Neotropical regions, and the record from South Korea means a considerable range extension of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:There is evidence for a relation of TV viewing with adiposity and increased cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents. It is unclear to what extent this relation is mediated by snacking and lack of physical activity. We determined whether associations of screen time with adiposity and cardiometabolic markers were mediated by these behaviours.Methods:Children from a population-representative Dutch birth cohort (n=1447) reported screen time and other lifestyle factors by a questionnaire around the age of 11 years (range 10-14) and had anthropometry and cardiometabolic markers measured around the age of 12 years (range 12-14). Adjusted associations of screen time with snacking, physical activity, adiposity and cardiometabolic markers (total-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDLC) ratio, blood pressure, glycated haemoglobin) were assessed by using formal mediation analysis. We tested the hypothesized paths by structural equation modeling, which allows quantification of the indirect effects associated with potential mediators.Results:Children with ⩾20 h screen time per week consumed more snacks (1.9 vs 1.3 portions per day) and were less physically active (4.3 vs 4.8 days per week) than children with maximum 6 h screen time. Screen time was directly associated with higher adiposity (standardized β=0.10-0.12 depending on the outcome, P<0.001), and indirectly through less physical activity. The association of screen time with TC/HDLC ratio was almost completely mediated by adiposity (β=0.39, P<0.0001), and to a minor extent by physical activity (β=−0.06, P=0.02). There was no direct association of screen time with TC/HDLC ratio.Conclusions:The adverse association of screen time with adiposity was partly mediated by physical activity, but not by snacking. The association of screen time with TC/HDLC ratio was almost completely mediated by adiposity. Our results may suggest that future efforts in society and public health should be directed to replace screen time with physical activity for reducing children's adiposity and cardiometabolic risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:Fabuless (Olibra) is a commercially structured lipid emulsion, claimed to be a food ingredient that is effective for food intake and appetite reduction. The present study assessed its efficacy in a yoghurt-based mini-drink undergoing low or minimal food manufacturing (thermal and shear) processes.Subjects/Methods:Study 1: Twenty-four healthy volunteers (16 female, 8 male; age: 18-47 years; body mass index (BMI): 17-28 kg m−2) took part in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind parallel crossover trial. Consumption of a minimally processed 'preload' mini-drink (containing two different doses of Fabuless or a control fat) at 2 h after breakfast was followed by appetite and mood ratings, and food intake measured in ad libitum meals at 3 and 7 h post consumption of the preload. Study 2: As Study 1 (16 female, 8 male; age: 20-54 years; BMI: 21-30 kg m−2). A chilled, virtually unprocessed, preload breakfast mini-drink (containing minimally processed Fabuless or a control fat) was provided 5 min after a standardised breakfast, followed by appetite and mood ratings, and food intake measured in ad libitum meals at 4 and 8 h post consumption of the preload.Results:The structured lipid emulsion tested had no significant effect on the primary measures of food intake or appetite.Conclusions:Even when exposed to minimal food-manufacturing conditions, Fabuless showed no efficacy on measures of appetite and food intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several short-term studies have investigated the effects of a vegetable oil emulsion on subsequent food intake, although findings have been inconsistent. This work aimed to review all studies, and investigate differences in study outcomes based on methodology. All known studies were identified. Data were abstracted from published studies ( n = 7). Details of unpublished studies were gained from investigators/sponsors ( n = 5), or were unavailable for reasons of confidentiality ( n = 4). Available data were combined using meta-analyses. A combined appetite suppressant effect of the emulsion compared with control was found for test meal intake at approximately 4, 12 and 36 h post-treatment: smallest combined mean difference (random effects model) = 0.53 MJ (95% confidence interval 0.20, 0.86), P < 0.01. However, considerable heterogeneity (variability) between study results was also found (smallest I = 94%, P < 0.01), questioning the predictive validity of the above findings. Meta-regression suggested this heterogeneity to be related to differences in the processed nature of the product, treatment dose and in particular year of study (smallest B = 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.06, 1.03, P = 0.04), although again heterogeneity was found. The only consistent finding was a lack of effect on food intake 4 h post-preload in studies conducted after 2003. These results suggest a small but inconsistent appetite suppressant effect of the vegetable oil emulsion. However, due to the large heterogeneity, no definitive conclusions can be drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elephant-shrews or sengis (Macroscelidea, Afrotheria) are grouped into two subfamilies, Rhynchocyoninae with a single genus and four species, and Macroscelidinae represented by three genera and 13 species. Our current understanding of the evolutionary relationships within this group is largely based on a molecular phylogeny that suffers from incomplete species representation. We present the first complete phylogeny (with the exception of the recently described East African Rhynchocyon udzungwensis) for Macroscelidea based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Novel cytogenetic characters as well as previously described allozyme variation and various morphological features are evaluated and mapped to the molecular topology. Our analyses indicate that Elephantulus is paraphyletic, and that Petrodromus and Macroscelides should be subsumed in Elephantulus. A relaxed Bayesian dating approach supports the hypothesis that an arid-adapted Macroscelidinae lineage dispersed from east Africa at ∼11.5 MYA via an African arid corridor to south-western Africa. The timing of speciation within the east African Rhynchocyoninae (8-10 MYA) is coincidental with the diversification of some other forest specialists. In turn, divergence within the Macroscelidinae coincides with major aridification events across Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:To investigate the feasibility of Fabuless (previously called Olibra and Reducal) as a food ingredient for food intake and appetite reduction, by assessing the effects of food processing on efficacy.Subjects/Methods:In total, 24 healthy volunteers (16 female, 8 male; age: 18-43 years; body mass index: 18-37 kg/m2) took part in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, cross-over trial. Yoghurt-based meal replacement drinks (containing processed or unprocessed Fabuless, or a control fat) were followed by an ad libitum lunch and evening meal (dinner). Key outcome measures were energy intake and self-reported appetite ratings.Results:Compared with control, only unprocessed Fabuless reduced subsequent energy intake, although only during dinner (P<0.01; control, processed and unprocessed: 4.3, 3.9 and 4.2 MJ, respectively) and not during lunch (3.6, 3.7 and 3.6 MJ). Self-reported appetite scores did not differ between treatments.Conclusions:Although modest effects of unprocessed Fabuless were seen on food intake, but not on appetite, the ingredient was not robust to common food-manufacturing processes (thermal and shear processing). Claims on reduced food intake and appetite relating to this ingredient in food products are, therefore, only valid if functionality has been demonstrated after all relevant processing and storage steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elephant-shrews (also called sengis, order Macroscelidea) are small-bodied insectivorous mammals with a strictly African distribution. Fifteen species currently are recognized, of which 9 occur in the southern African subregion. On the basis of molecular, cytogenetic, and morphological evidence, Elephantulus edwardii, the only strictly South African endemic species, is shown to comprise 2 closely related taxa. The new Elephantulus taxon described herein is from the central Nama-Karoo region of Western Cape and Northern Cape Provinces. Important genetic distinctions underpin its delimitation. Sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene and the hypervariable control region as well as 7th intron of the nuclear fibrinogen gene show these 2 taxa to be reciprocally monophyletic. They are separated by 13.8% sequence divergence (uncorrected) based on the 2 mitochondrial segments, and 4.2% based on the nuclear intron sequences. In addition, fixed cytogenetic differences include a centromeric shift, heterochromatic differences on autosomal pairs 1-6, and the number of nucleolar organizer regions. The new species has several subtle morphological and phenotypic characters that distinguish it from its sibling species E. edwardii, the most striking of which is the presence of a tail-tuft, as well as the color of the flanks and the ventral pelage. The abundance, detailed distribution of the new form, and its life-history characteristics are not known, and further studies clearly are needed to determine its conservation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the Macroscelidea 15 species of elephant-shrews are recognized, of which nine occur in the southern African subregion. The Cape rock elephant-shrew ( Elephantulus edwardii) is the only strictly endemic South African elephant-shrew species. Recent distribution data suggest that E. edwardii is continuously distributed from Namaqualand in the Western Cape Province to Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province. Molecular sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and variable control region indicate significant substructure within the Cape rock elephant-shrew across its distribution. Our data unequivocally showed the presence of a northern Namaqua and central Fynbos clade with four evolutionary lineages identified within the latter. The geographical delimitation of the northern and central clades corresponds closely with patterns reported for other rock-dwelling vertebrate species, indicating a shared biogeographical history for these taxa in South Africa. A coalescent method revealed the effects of ancestral polymorphism in shaping the Namaqua and Fynbos populations since their divergence ~1.7 million years ago. Furthermore, our analyses uncovered a distinct Karoo lineage(s) that does not correspond to any of the previously described and/or currently recognized species, and we therefore argue for the possible recognition of a new sister taxon to E. edwardii. The taxonomic affinities of this clade were examined by sequencing corresponding regions from the type specimens of species described in the past, but which presently are synonimized within E. edwardii. Our results reveal the morphological misidentification of one of these types, accentuating the problems of field identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) cultivars were compared for differences in herbage production, nutritive value and herbage intake of dry matter (DM) during the summers of 2002 and 2003. Two paddocks were sown with pure stands of four cultivars in a randomized block design with three replicates. Each plot was subdivided into fourteen subplots (22 m × 6 m) which were grazed by one cow during 24 h. Twelve lactating dairy cows were assigned to one cultivar for a period of 2 weeks in a 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design; the experiment lasted 8 weeks in each year. Sward structure (sward surface height, DM yield, green leaf mass, bulk density and tiller density) and morphological characteristics were measured. The ash, neutral-detergent fibre, acid-detergent lignin, crude protein and water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations, and in vitro digestibility of the herbage were measured. The sward was also examined for infestation by crown rust ( Puccinia coronata f. sp. lolii). Herbage intake of dairy cows was estimated using the n-alkane technique. Cultivar differences for all sward structural characteristics were found except for bulk density and tiller density in 2003. Cultivars differed for proportions of pseudostem, stem (in 2003 only) and dead material. The chemical composition of the herbage was different among cultivars, with the water-soluble carbohydrate concentration showing large variation (>0·35). Cultivars differed in susceptibility to crown rust. Herbage intake differed among cultivars in 2002 (>2 kg DM) but not in 2003. Herbage intake was positively associated with sward height, DM yield and green leaf mass. Canopy morphology did not affect herbage intake. Crown rust affected herbage intake negatively. It was concluded that options for breeders to select for higher intake were limited. High-yielding cultivars and cultivars highly resistant to crown rust were positively related with a high herbage intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For estimating herbage intake during grazing, the traditional sward cutting technique was compared in grazing experiments in 2002 and 2003 with the recently developed n-alkanes technique and with the net energy method. The first method estimates herbage intake by the difference between the herbage mass before and after grazing and the regrowth between the 2 points in time. The second technique estimates herbage intake by the ratio of a dosed even-chain synthetic n-alkane (C32) and a naturally occurring odd-chain n-alkane (C31 or C33) in the herbage and feces. The third technique calculated the intake from the animal's energy requirements for milk production and maintenance. The sward cutting technique estimated herbage intake with the highest coefficient of variation and had different results in the 2 experimental years. The n-alkanes method yielded less variable results, whereas the net energy method gave the least variable results. In 2002, the estimates of the alkane ratio C32:C33 were best related with estimations of the net energy method. In 2003, the estimates of the alkane ratio C32:C31 were best related. The estimate based on the alkane ratio C32:C33 had a lower coefficient of variation than the one based on the alkane ratio C32:C31. Therefore, the C32:C33 alkane method was considered to be a better direct estimator for herbage intake by grazing lactating dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In recent years antioxidants, foods rich in antioxidants (e.g. fruits, vegetables) and fish have been suggested to protect against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There are also indications for a protective effect of whole grain intake and of consuming moderate amounts of alcohol. It is, however, not clear whether the effects of the different dietary factors on COPD are independent of each other and if so, whether their effects are additive. Objective To gain more insight into the potential protective effect of diet on COPD, we studied fruit, vegetable, fish, alcohol and whole grain consumption simultaneously in relation to pulmonary function and COPD symptoms. Methods Analysed were cross-sectional data collected in 13 651 men and women aged 20–59 years participating between 1994 and 1997 in the MORGEN study (monitoring project on risk factors and health in The Netherlands). Regression models were adjusted for age, gender, height (for pulmonary function only), smoking, BMI and energy intake. Results Fruit and whole grain intake showed independent beneficial associations with COPD (P-trend < 0.001). Furthermore, in subjects with low alcohol consumption (1–30 g/day) the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was higher and the prevalence of COPD symptoms lower than in non-drinkers (P < 0.001). The effects of a favourable intake of fruits (> 180 g/day), whole grains (> 45 g/day) and alcohol (1–30 g/day) were largely additive. In the 2998 subjects with a favourable intake of the three foods, the FEV1 was 139 mL higher and the prevalence of COPD symptoms lower (odds ratio (OR) = 0.44) than in subjects (n = 1406) with unfavourable intakes of fruits, whole grains and alcohol (P < 0.001). A similar effect was observed in those who had never smoked. Fish and vegetable intake did not show independent beneficial associations with COPD. Conclusions Our results suggest independent beneficial effects of fruits, whole grains and alcohol on COPD that are largely additive and cannot be explained by smoking habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundA family history of allergy, reflecting genetic risk factors, increases the risk of developing allergic diseases, but environmental factors, especially those present in early life, also contribute to the actual development of allergic phenomena. ObjectiveTo identify differences in lifestyle between allergic and non-allergic parents, which may influence the prevalence of environmental risk factors in their homes. MethodsData were collected in a Dutch birth cohort study by postal questionnaire about 2 months before and 3 months after the birth of the child. ResultsOf the 3147 infants in the study 1910 (61%) had two non-allergic parents, of 315 infants (10%) only the mother was allergic, of 787 infants (25%) only the father was allergic and 135 (4%) infants had two allergic parents. If both parents were allergic, 53% reported that allergy was taken into consideration when they furnished their home and significantly more of their homes were free of cats and free of cigarette smoke; adjusted odds ratio's for two allergic parents vs. two non-allergic parents were 0.30 (confidence interval (CI) 0.17–0.50) for the presence of cats and 0.46 (CI 0.27–0.75) for smoking in the home. Parental allergy was also associated with having a smooth floor in the baby's bedroom and with postponement of the introduction of fruits and vegetables until the age of 26 weeks. The presence of dogs at home, the prevalence of mothers' smoking during pregnancy and the decision to breast feed were unrelated to parental allergy. ConclusionWe conclude that studies on the relationship between allergy in parents and allergy in their offspring should always consider the home environment as a potential confounder. For allergy prevention our results imply that among allergic parents there is awareness and willingness to take measures that reduce exposure to indoor allergens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence for a role of diet in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been accumulating rapidly over the past decade. Associations have been reported between the intake of fruit, fish, antioxidant vitamins, fatty acids, sodium or magnesium, and indicators of asthma and COPD. Several issues need to be addressed before causality of these associations can be established. The role of diet in the development of disease and the induction time and reversibility of the effect needs further investigation. The role of smoking habits in the relation of diet and respiratory disease also needs to be elucidated. Nevertheless, based on the available evidence, dietary guidelines could be proposed for the primary and secondary prevention of asthma and COPD that are in line with existing dietary guidelines for the prevention of coronary heart disease and cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies a possible protective role of antioxidants in relation to acute respiratory effects of air pollution. Association of air pollution with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases; Mechanism of action of antioxidants; Modulation of the acute respiratory effects of ozone or nitrogen oxide on lung function.

Objective: To study the association between plasma antioxidants (beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol) and lung function in Dutch adults aged 20-59 y.Design: Cross-sectional.Setting: Population-based study.Subjects: A random sample (n=367) was drawn from all participants (men and women) aged 20-59 y with reproducible lung function measurements in 1995.Intervention: Completion of general questionnaire and physical examination.Main Outcome Measurements: Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and plasma levels of beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol.Results: SUBJECTS with a high plasma beta-carotene level (90th percentile, that is 0.57 micromol/L) tended to have a higher FEV1 (73 ml, s.e.m. 60 ml; P=0.22) and a higher FVC (147 ml, s.e.m. 76 ml; P=0.05) than subjects with a low plasma beta-carotene level (10th percentile, that is 0.11 micromol/L) after adjustment for age, height, gender, smoking status, pack-years of smoking and alcohol consumption. There was no difference in lung function between subjects with high and low plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations.Conclusions: The results suggest that subjects with a high plasma beta-carotene tended to have a higher FVC than subjects with a low plasma beta-carotene concentration which was borderline statistically significant. The difference for FEV1 between high and low levels of plasma beta-carotene tended to be in the same positive direction as that of FVC but did not reach the pre-set statistical significance level. There is no relation between plasma alpha-tocopherol and lung function.Sponsorship: Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports of the Netherlands and the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study on the association between plasma antioxidants and lung function. Health aspects of antioxidants such as vitamins C, E and beta-carotene; Methods of the study; Results.

Au Mössbauer effect spectroscopy and specific heat measurements have been performed as a function of temperature on three gold polynuclear cluster compounds, [Au(PPh)](NO), Au(PPh)(SCN), and Au(PPh)Cl. The Mössbauer data yield information on the vibrational motions of the various distinguishable Au sites, as well as on the motion of the clusters as a whole. The Mössbauer and the specific heat data are successfully described by a superposition of inter- and intra-cluster vibrations. The latter are determined by calculating numerically the normal modes of vibration of the metal cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Canada routine ozone soundings have been carried at Resolute Bay since 1966, making this record the longest in the world. Similar measurements started in the 1970s at three other sites, and the network was expanded in stages to 10 sites by 2003. This important record for understanding long-term changes in tropospheric and stratospheric ozone has been re-evaluated as part of the SPARC/IO3C/IGACO-O3/NDACC (SI²N) initiative. The Brewer-Mast sonde, used in the Canadian network until 1980, is different in construction from the electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) sonde, and the ECC sonde itself has also undergone a variety of minor design changes over the period 1980-2013. Corrections have been made for the estimated effects of these changes to produce a more homogeneous data set. The effect of the corrections is generally modest. However, the overall result is entirely positive: the comparison with co-located total ozone spectrometers is improved, in terms of both bias and standard deviation, and trends in the bias have been reduced or eliminated. An uncertainty analysis (including the additional uncertainty from the corrections, where appropriate) has also been conducted, and the altitude-dependent estimated uncertainty is included with each revised profile. The resulting time series show negative trends in the lower stratosphere of up to 5 % decade-1 for the period 1966-2013. Most of this decline occurred before 1997, and linear trends for the more recent period are generally not significant. The time series also show large variations from year to year. Some of these anomalies can be related to cold winters (in the Arctic stratosphere) or changes in the Brewer-Dobson circulation, which may thereby be influencing trends. In the troposphere, trends for the 48-year period are small and for the most part not significant. This suggests that ozone levels in the free troposphere over Canada have not changed significantly in nearly 50 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Canada routine ozone soundings have been carried at Resolute Bay since 1966, making this record the longest in the world. Similar measurements started in the 1970s at three other sites, and the network was expanded in stages to 10 sites by 2003. This important record for understanding long-term changes in tropospheric and stratospheric ozone has been re-evaluated as part of the SPARC/IO3C/IGACO-O3/NDACC (SI²N) initiative. The Brewer--Mast sonde, used in the Canadian network until 1980, is different in construction from the electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) sonde, and the ECC sonde itself has also undergone a variety of minor design changes over the period 1980-2013. Corrections have been made for the estimated effects of these changes to produce a more homogeneous data set. The effect of the corrections is generally modest. However, the overall result is entirely positive: the comparison with co-located total ozone spectrometers is improved, in terms of both bias and standard deviation, and trends in the bias have been reduced or eliminated. An uncertainty analysis (including the additional uncertainty from the corrections, where appropriate) has also been conducted, and the altitude-dependent estimated uncertainty is included with each revised profile. The resulting time series show negative trends in the lower stratosphere of up to 5% decade-1 for the period 1966-2013. Most of this decline occurred before 1997, and linear trends for the more recent period are generally not significant. The time series also show large variations from year to year. Some of these anomalies can be related to cold winters (in the Arctic stratosphere) or changes in the Brewer--Dobson circulation, which may thereby be influencing trends. In the troposphere, trends for the 48-year period are small and for the most part not significant. This suggests that ozone levels in the free troposphere over Canada have not changed significantly in nearly 50 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Canada routine ozone soundings have been carried at Resolute Bay since 1966, making this record the longest in the world. Similar measurements started in the 1970s at three other sites, and the network was expanded in stages to 10 sites by 2003. This important record for understanding long-term changes in tropospheric and stratospheric ozone has been re-evaluated as part of the SPARC/IO3C/IGACO-O3/NDACC (SI2N) initiative. The Brewer-Mast sonde, used in the Canadian network until 1980, is different in construction from the ECC sonde, and the ECC sonde itself has also undergone a variety of minor design changes over the period 1980-2013. Corrections have been made for the estimated effects of these changes, to produce a more homogeneous dataset. The effect of the corrections is generally modest, and so should not invalidate past analyses that have used Canadian network data. However, the overall result is entirely positive: the comparison with co-located total ozone spectrometers is improved, in terms of both bias and SD, and trends in the bias have been reduced or eliminated. An uncertainty analysis (including the additional uncertainty from the corrections, where appropriate) has also been conducted, and the altitude-dependent estimated uncertainty is included with each revised profile. The resulting time series show negative trends in the lower stratosphere of up to 5%decade-1 for the period 1966-2013. Most of this decline occurred before 1997, and linear trends for the more recent period are generally not significant. The time series also show large variations from year to year. Some of these anomalies can be related to cold winters (in the Arctic stratosphere), or changes in the Brewer-Dobson circulation, which may thereby be influencing trends. In the troposphere trends for the 48 year period are small, and for the most part not significant. This suggests that ozone levels in the free troposphere over Canada have not changed significantly in nearly 50 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a tunable diode laser-based dual-channel photoacoustic (PA) humidity measuring system primarily designed for aircraft-based environment research. It is calibrated for total pressure and water vapor (WV) volume mixing ratios (VMRs) possible during airborne applications. WV VMR is calculated by using pressure-dependent calibration curves and a cubic spline interpolation method. Coverage of the entire atmospheric humidity concentration range that might be encountered during airborne measurements is facilitated by applying an automated sensitivity mode switching algorithm. The calibrated PA system was validated through laboratory and airborne intercomparisons, which proved that the repeatability, the estimated accuracy and the response time of the system are 0.5 ppmV or 0.5 % of the actual reading (whichever value is the greater), 5 % of the actual reading within the VMR range of 1-12 000 ppmV and 2 s, respectively. The upper detection limit of the system is theoretically about 85 000 ppmV, limited only by condensation of water vapor on the walls of the 318 K heated PA cells and inlet lines, and was experimentally verified up to 20 000 ppmV. The unique advantage of the presented system is its applicability for simultaneous water vapor and total water volume mixing ratio measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To study whether being diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease (CVD) or diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with improvements in lifestyles. METHODS: We used data from the Doetinchem Cohort Study, a prospective study among 6386 Dutch men and women initially aged 20-59years who were examined four times over 15years (1987-2007). Logistic and linear regression models were used to assess the effect of a self-reported diagnosis of CVD (n=403) or DM (n=221) on smoking, alcohol consumption, weight, diet and physical activity. RESULTS: Self-reported diagnosis of CVD increased rates of smoking cessation (OR=2.2, 95%CI 1.6 - 3.1). Adults reporting a diagnosis of DM (relatively) decreased weight (3.2%, 95%CI 2.2 - 4.2), (relatively) decreased energy intake (4.2%, 95%CI 0.7 - 7.7), decreased energy percentage from saturated fat (0.4%, 95%CI 0.0 - 0.9) and increased fish consumption (2.8 g/day, 95%CI 0.4 - 5.1). A self-reported diagnosis of CVD or DM was not associated with changes in physical activity. CONCLUSION: A diagnosis of CVD or DM may act, along with possible effects of medical treatment, as a trigger to adopt a healthier lifestyle in terms of smoking cessation, healthier diet and weight loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A novel data-driven approach was used to identify wheezing phenotypes in pre-schoolchildren aged 0-8 years, in the Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy ( PIAMA) birth cohort. Five phenotypes were identified: never/infrequent wheeze, transient early wheeze, intermediate onset wheeze, persistent wheeze and late onset wheeze. It is unknown which perinatal risk factors drive development of these phenotypes. Objective The objective of the study was to assess associations of perinatal factors with wheezing phenotypes and to identify possible targets for prevention. Methods In the PIAMA study ( n = 3963), perinatal factors were collected at 3 months, and wheezing was assessed annually until the age of 8 years. Associations between perinatal risk factors and the five wheezing phenotypes were assessed using weighted multinomial logistic regression models. Odds ratios were adjusted for confounding variables and calculated with 'never/infrequent wheeze' as reference category. Results Complete data were available for 2728 children. Risk factors for transient early wheeze ( n = 455) were male gender, maternal and paternal allergy, low maternal age, high maternal body mass index, short pregnancy duration, smoking during pregnancy, presence of older siblings and day-care attendance. Risk factors for persistent wheeze ( n = 83) were male gender, maternal and paternal allergy, and not receiving breastfeeding for at least 12 weeks. Intermediate onset wheeze ( n = 98) was associated with a lower birth weight and late onset wheeze ( n = 45) with maternal allergy. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance We identified different risk factors for specific childhood wheezing phenotypes. Some of these are modifiable, such as maternal age and body mass index, smoking, day-care attendance and breastfeeding, and may be important targets for prevention programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accuracy, precision, repeatability and long-term stability, are the most important requirements to enable reliable airborne humidity measurements, which are needed for climate models or to validate e.g. remote sensing instrumentation like satellites. However, various hygrometer artifacts which depend on the individual sensor principle and the application profile frequently cause problems and significantly complicate the hygrometer choice. Sensor intercomparisons are one way of providing the information for an optimal choice. In this paper we present the first part of a blind, static, laboratory-based intercomparison of a new, calibration-free, 1.4 μm diode laser-based, optical hygrometer (SEALDH) with the two most important measurement principles for airborne hygrometry (frost-point hygrometers, FPH, and Lyman-alpha fluorescence hygrometers, LAFH). During three days of measurement, the TDL-hygrometer achieved a HO resolution of up to 0.5 ppmv (Δ t=2 sec) at tropospheric pressure and HO concentration levels (100-800 hPa, 10 to 8000 ppmv HO). Its absolute accuracy was investigated via blind intercomparison with two reference FPHs and a LAFH. Without any calibration of SEALDH, i.e. without a comparison to a water vapor standard, we achieve an excellent agreement with the reference sensors, with an average systematic offset (over all three days) of −3.9 %±1.5 %, which is fully consistent with the sensor's uncertainty bounds. Further we also reevaluated the SEALDH data of day 2 and 3 in a calibrated mode using an independent set of FPH data from the first day and found an 8-fold accuracy improvement, yielding an excellent overall relative deviation of only 0.52 %±1.5 % with respect to a LAFH and a D/FH sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of automated registration in delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) of the knee on the occurrence of movement artefacts on the T1 map and the reproducibility of region-of-interest (ROI)-based measurements.Methods: Eleven patients with early-stage knee osteoarthritis and ten healthy controls underwent dGEMRIC twice at 3 T. Controls underwent unenhanced imaging. ROIs were manually drawn on the femoral and tibial cartilage. T1 calculation was performed with and without registration of the T1-weighted images. Automated three-dimensional rigid registration was performed on the femur and tibia cartilage separately. Registration quality was evaluated using the square root Cramér-Rao lower bound (CRLB(σ)). Additionally, the reproducibility of dGEMRIC was assessed by comparing automated registration with manual slice-matching.Results: Automated registration of the T1-weighted images improved the T1 maps as the 90% percentile of the CRLB(σ) was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced with a median reduction of 55.8 ms (patients) and 112.9 ms (controls). Manual matching and automated registration of the re-imaged T1 map gave comparable intraclass correlation coefficients of respectively 0.89/0.90 (patients) and 0.85/0.85 (controls).Conclusions: Registration in dGEMRIC reduces movement artefacts on T1 maps and provides a good alternative to manual slice-matching in longitudinal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To cite this article: van Oeffelen AAM, Bekkers MBM, Smit HA, Kerkhof M, Koppelman GH, Haveman-Nies A, van der A DL, Jansen EHJM, Wijga AH. Serum micronutrient concentrations and childhood asthma: the PIAMA birth cohort study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011: 22: 784-793. Abstract Background: Research suggests an influence of micronutrients on childhood asthma. So far, evidence mainly originates from cross-sectional studies using nutrient intake data, which is not an accurate measure of nutrient status. This study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional and prospective associations between serum concentrations of magnesium, vitamin D, selenium, and zinc and prevalence of (severe) asthma, atopy, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in childhood. Methods: In the Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy birth cohort study, serum nutrient concentrations were available for a 4-yr-old subgroup (n = 372) and for a different 8-yr-old subgroup (n = 328). Yearly questionnaires inquired about asthma prevalence until 8 yr of age. Allergic sensitization was measured at 4 and 8 yr of age; BHR was measured at 8 yr of age. Data were analyzed with logistic regression and generalized estimating equations models. Results: There was a consistent (non-significant) inverse association between serum magnesium concentrations and asthma prevalence. Serum vitamin D concentrations measured at age 4 were inversely associated with asthma at ages 4-8 [e.g., cross-sectional association between vitamin D tertile 3 vs. 1 and severe asthma: odds ratio (OR): 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25-0.95], whereas vitamin D measured at age 8 was positively associated with asthma at age 8 (e.g., cross-sectional association between vitamin D tertile 3 vs. 1 and severe asthma: OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 0.67-6.82). Conclusions: Our study contributes to the evidence that children with higher serum magnesium concentrations are less likely to have asthma. The associations between serum vitamin D concentrations and asthma were age-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is considered the best index of glycaemic control in established diabetes. It may also be useful in the diagnosis of diabetes and as a screening tool. Little is known about the distribution of HbA1c in healthy children and its predictors. The aim of this study is to describe the distribution of HbA1c in non-diabetic Dutch children aged 8–9 years and to investigate potential associations of HbA1c in this group. Methods HbA1c was measured in 788 non-diabetic children aged 8–9 years participating in the PIAMA birth cohort study. Data on parents and children were collected prospectively by questionnaires. Weight, height and waist and hip circumference of the children were measured when blood samples were taken. Results Mean (sd) HbA1c was 4.9 ± 0.33%, range 3.5–6.0%. HbA1c was significantly higher in boys (4.9 ± 0.31 vs. 4.9 ± 0.33%) and in children of mothers with gestational diabetes (5.0 ± 0.37 vs. 4.9 ± 0.32%). We found a significant inverse association between HbA1c and haemoglobin (regression coefficient: −0.169 (95% CI −0.221 to −0.118), P < 0.001). HbA1c was not significantly associated with age, body mass index, waist circumference, parental diabetes or maternal body mass index. Conclusions We found no significant relation between known risk factors for Type 2 diabetes and HbA1c at age 8–9 years. Moreover, there was a significant inverse association between haemoglobin and HbA1c. These results suggest that HbA1c may not only reflect the preceding blood glucose levels, but seems to be determined by other factors as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of 4 diploid perennial ryegrass cultivars that differed in water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations on milk yield and nitrogen (N) utilization in dairy cows were evaluated in a 2-yr grazing experiment. Twelve lactating dairy cows were assigned to 1 cultivar for a 2-wk period in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with 3 replicates. Each year, the experiment lasted 8 wk. Swards were in a vegetative stage throughout the experiment. Herbage constituents were determined, and DM intake was estimated with the n-alkane technique. Nitrogen utilization was calculated as N excreted in milk divided by N intake, assuming a zero N retention. Two cultivars had consistently higher WSC concentrations and slightly lower neutral detergent fiber concentrations than the other 2 cultivars. The ranking of the cultivars in chemical composition traits in both years was rather consistent. Cows grazing the cultivar with the lowest concentration of WSC had the lowest herbage DM intake, N intake, milk yield, and milk N yield in 2002, but with a similar difference in WSC concentration, no differences among cultivars were found in 2003. In both years, milk urea N concentration was slightly higher for cows grazing the cultivar with the lowest WSC concentration, although it was significant only in 2003. Nitrogen utilization (N milk:N intake, g/g) varied between 0.241 and 0.246 in 2002 and between 0.190 and 0.209 in 2003, and in both years there was no effect of cultivar. At relatively high N concentrations in grass and only small differences among cultivars in neutral detergent fiber concentrations, cultivars with an elevated WSC concentration did not increase N utilization in grazing dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases has increased dramatically over the past few decades with the highest incidence occurring in children. Most asthma and related atopic disorders have their origins in early life. Thus, it is imperative to understand the early life origins of the disease in order to identify targets for prevention and early intervention. Although atopic diseases have genetic determinants, the increased incidence of these diseases has occurred far too rapidly for genetic changes to explain the increase. This, most likely, results from changes in environmental influences acting on a pre-existent genetic susceptibility. One of the environmental changes over the last 20–40 years that could have contributed to the recent increase in atopic diseases is diet. Food allergy is often one of the earliest manifestations of atopy, and sensitization to food is a risk factor for the subsequent appearance of respiratory allergy and asthma. However, studies investigating the effects of dietary restrictions on the prevention of allergy have been disappointing. On the other hand, current data suggests that exclusive breastfeeding should be encouraged for at least 4–6 months in infants at both high and low risk of atopy. Increased risk of asthma has also been observed in low birth weight infants, suggesting that under-nutrition can detrimentally alter foetal development. Epidemiological and immunological studies also suggest that dietary modification or supplementation in the foetal and early life could reduce the development of atopic diseases. The current dietary hypotheses relate to antioxidants, lipids, electrolytes and probiotics. The aims of this report are: (i) to assess the best methods to analyse nutrient intake and nutrient status; (ii) to review the existing epidemiological evidence for an association between dietary intake (nutrients and food) and allergic diseases; and (iii) to define the windows of opportunity for nutritional supplementation to be used as a preventative strategy for asthma and allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of 8 diploid perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars on dry matter (DM) intake, DM digestibility, and milk yield (MY) of dairy cows were evaluated in the summer of 2000 and 2001. Each summer, herbage was harvested daily and stall-fed to 12 dairy cows during six 2-wk periods. Six cultivars were fed in 3 periods (1, 3, and 5) according to a double 3 x 3 Latin square design. In the other periods (2, 4, and 6), 2 cultivars were fed in a repeated measurement design. Herbage mass and leaf blades in the sward canopy varied among cultivars, but differences were not consistent between years. The largest differences in herbage composition were found in water-soluble carbohydrate content, followed by crude protein content. only small differences were found in the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content. A higher water-soluble carbohydrate content was found in 2 cultivars in both years, whereas ranking of cultivars in crude protein and NDF content was not consistent with years. Dry matter intake and MY were not affected by cultivar. In both years, DM digestiblity was high (>77%), with very small differences among cultivars in 2000 (<0.5%) and larger differences in 2001 (up to 4%). This was associated with a delayed heading date in 2001, resulting in larger differences in leaf blades and NDF content among cultivars. It may be concluded that the 8 cultivars used in our experiments do not provide grass breeders with encouraging evidence to include selection criteria for an increased DM intake, DM digestibility, and MY in their grass breeding schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the burden of illness of low back problems—prevalence and consequences—in the working and the non-working population.Methods: Data from the Monitoring Project on Risk factors for Chronic Diseases, the MORGEN-study, were used. This project provided data on a probability sample of the general population aged 20–59 y in the Netherlands. Cross-sectional questionnaire data on 6317 men (24% non-working) and 7505 women (47% non-working) gathered over the period 1993–1995 were analysed.Results: The 12 month period prevalence of low back problems for the working and non-working population was 44.4% and 45.8% for men, and 48.2% and 55.0% for women. Larger differences were found for chronic low back problems, and activity limitation and use of health services due to low back problems. More than one-third of those who were disabled were so because of low back problems. When those unable to work because of disability (work disabled) were excluded, the prevalence and consequences of low back pain were still higher in the non-working group in comparison with the working population. Most of the non-working women were housewives and this group was both large in size and had a high prevalence of low back problems.Conclusions: Among the men studied, more than a quarter of the total burden of low back problems in those aged 20–59 y were found in the non-working population, among women this was 50%. Both research on causes and determinants of low back pain and the development of preventive actions—now being extensively focused on the working population—should also be translated to the non-working population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antipsychotic medication is effective for symptomatic treatment in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. After symptom remission, continuation of antipsychotic treatment is associated with lower relapse rates and lower symptom severity compared to dose reduction/discontinuation. Therefore, most guidelines recommend continuation of treatment with antipsychotic medication for at least 1 year. Recently, however, these guidelines have been questioned as one study has shown that more patients achieved long-term functional remission in an early discontinuation condition-a finding that was not replicated in another recently published long-term study.Methods/design: The HAMLETT (Handling Antipsychotic Medication Long-term Evaluation of Targeted Treatment) study is a multicenter pragmatic single-blind randomized controlled trial in two parallel conditions (1:1) investigating the effects of continuation versus dose-reduction/discontinuation of antipsychotic medication after remission of a first episode of psychosis (FEP) on personal and social functioning, psychotic symptom severity, and health-related quality of life. In total 512 participants will be included, aged between 16 and 60 years, in symptomatic remission from a FEP for 3-6 months, and for whom psychosis was not associated with severe or life-threatening self-harm or violence. Recruitment will take place at 24 Dutch sites. Patients are randomized (1:1) to: continuation of antipsychotic medication until at least 1 year after remission (original dose allowing a maximum reduction of 25%, or another antipsychotic drug in similar dose range); or gradual dose reduction till eventual discontinuation of antipsychotics according to a tapering schedule. If signs of relapse occur in this arm, medication dose can be increased again. Measurements are conducted at baseline, at 3, and 6 months post-baseline, and yearly during a follow-up period of 4 years.Discussion: The HAMLETT study will offer evidence to guide patients and clinicians regarding questions concerning optimal treatment duration and when to taper off medication after remission of a FEP. Moreover, it may provide patient characteristics associated with safe dose reduction with a minimal risk of relapse.Trial Status: Protocol version 1.3, October 2018. The study is active and currently recruiting patients (since September 2017), with the first 200 participants by the end of 2019. We anticipate completing recruitment in 2022 and final assessments (including follow-up 3.5 years after phase one) in 2026.Trial Registration: European Clinical Trials Database, EudraCT number 2017-002406-12. Registered 7 June 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Being born large for gestational age ( LGA) is a marker of increased growth velocity in fetal life and a risk factor for childhood overweight. Both being born LGA and childhood overweight may influence the development of asthma, although the role of overweight in the association between LGA and childhood asthma is unclear. Importantly, recent studies have suggested that the association between overweight and asthma may be related to non-allergic pathways. If this also applies to the association between LGA and asthma, the association between being born LGA and asthma may be different for atopic and non-atopic children. Objective We investigated the association of being LGA with the prevalence of asthma at age 8 in atopic and non-atopic children and the role of overweight in this association. Methods Complete data on asthma, anthropometry and atopy at age of 8 years, and potential confounders were available for 1608 participants of the PIAMA birth cohort. Odds ratios for the association between LGA and asthma in atopic and non-atopic children were estimated by logistic regression analysis adjusting for potential confounders. Overweight was assessed as a potential modifier of the association between LGA and asthma. Results Being born LGA was not significantly associated with asthma at age of 8 in atopic and non-atopic children. However, overweight at age of 8 years modified the association between asthma at age of 8 and LGA. In non-atopic children, children who were born LGA and were overweight at age of 8 years had a significantly increased odds of asthma compared to non- LGA, non-overweight children (adj OR 7.04; 95% CI 2.2-24). Conclusions We observed that non-atopic children born LGA, who were overweight by 8 years have an increased risk of asthma. If confirmed, these findings suggest that non-atopic children born LGA may be identified early in life as a high-risk group for asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a response of the author regarding a letter to the editor about his article on consumption of products containing milk fat.

Background Levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFAs) and n-6 PUFAs in breast milk are associated with the development of allergic diseases up to school age. However, it is unknown whether this relationship persists when the child becomes older. We therefore studied the association between levels of n-3 PUFAs and n-6 PUFAs in breast milk of allergic- and nonallergic mothers and asthma, eczema and sensitization up to the age of 14 years. Methods The study was nested in the ongoing PIAMA birth cohort. At the child's age of 3 months, 276 mothers provided a breast milk sample. Asthma ( N total = 269) and eczema ( N total = 274) were self-reported up to the child's age of 14 years. Specific serum IgE levels were measured at the ages of 4, 8 and 12 years ( N total = 216). Generalized estimating equations analyses were used to take account of repeated observations. Results Asthma up to the age of 14 years is less prevalent in children of allergic mothers receiving breast milk with higher levels of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated ( LCP) fatty acids ( OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.31-0.79), and more prevalent in children of nonallergic mothers receiving breast milk with higher levels of n-6 LCP ( OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.14-3.03). Weaker associations in similar direction were observed for eczema and sensitization. Direction of associations were consistent and of similar magnitude throughout childhood. Conclusion The association between breast milk fatty acid composition and asthma, eczema and sensitization persists up to the age of 14 years in children of both allergic and nonallergic mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Asthma, rhinitis and eczema often co-occur in children, but their interrelationships at the population level have been poorly addressed. We assessed co-occurrence of childhood asthma, rhinitis and eczema using unsupervised statistical techniques. Methods We included 17 209 children at 4 years and 14 585 at 8 years from seven European population-based birth cohorts (Me DALL project). At each age period, children were grouped, using partitioning cluster analysis, according to the distribution of 23 variables covering symptoms 'ever' and 'in the last 12 months', doctor diagnosis, age of onset and treatments of asthma, rhinitis and eczema; immunoglobulin E sensitization; weight; and height. We tested the sensitivity of our estimates to subject and variable selections, and to different statistical approaches, including latent class analysis and self-organizing maps. Results Two groups were identified as the optimal way to cluster the data at both age periods and in all sensitivity analyses. The first (reference) group at 4 and 8 years (including 70% and 79% of children, respectively) was characterized by a low prevalence of symptoms and sensitization, whereas the second (symptomatic) group exhibited more frequent symptoms and sensitization. Ninety-nine percentage of children with comorbidities (co-occurrence of asthma, rhinitis and/or eczema) were included in the symptomatic group at both ages. The children's characteristics in both groups were consistent in all sensitivity analyses. Conclusion At 4 and 8 years, at the population level, asthma, rhinitis and eczema can be classified together as an allergic comorbidity cluster. Future research including time-repeated assessments and biological data will help understanding the interrelationships between these diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ozone profile records of a large number of limb and occultation satellite instruments are widely used to address several key questions in ozone research. Further progress in some domains depends on a more detailed understanding of these data sets, especially of their long-term stability and their mutual consistency. To this end, we make a systematic assessment of fourteen limb and occultation sounders that, together, provide more than three decades of global ozone profile measurements. In particular, we consider the latest operational Level-2 records by SAGE II, SAGE III, HALOE, UARS MLS, Aura MLS, POAM II, POAM III, OSIRIS, SMR, GOMOS, MIPAS, SCIAMACHY, ACE-FTS and MAESTRO. Central to our work is a harmonized and robust analysis of the comparisons against the ground-based ozonesonde and stratospheric ozone lidar networks. It allows us to investigate, from the ground up to the stratopause, the following main aspects of data quality: long-term stability, overall bias, and short-term variability, together with their dependence on geophysical parameters and profile representation. In addition, it permits us to quantify the overall consistency between the ozone profilers. Generally, we find that between 20-40 km, the satellite ozone measurement biases are smaller than ±5%, the short-term variabilities are better than 5-12% and the drifts are at most ±5% decade-1 (and ±3% decade-1 for a few records). The agreement with ground-based data degrades somewhat towards the stratopause and especially towards the tropopause, where natural variability and low ozone abundancies impede a more precise analysis. A few records deviate from the preceding general remarks, in part of the stratosphere; we identify biases of 10% and more (POAM II and SCIAMACHY), markedly higher single-profile variability (SMR and SCIAMACHY), and significant long-term drifts (SCIAMACHY, OSIRIS, HALOE, and possibly GOMOS and SMR as well). Furthermore, we reflect on the repercussions of our findings for the construction, analysis and interpretation of merged data records. Most notably, the discrepancies between several recent ozone profile trend assessments can be mostly explained by instrumental drift. This clearly demonstrates the need for systematic comprehensive multi-instrument comparison analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Lung cancer has the highest mortality of all cancers. The aim of this study was to examine DNA hypermethylation in sputum and validate its diagnostic accuracy for lung cancer.Methods:DNA hypermethylation of RASSF1A, APC, cytoglobin, 3OST2, PRDM14, FAM19A4 and PHACTR3 was analysed in sputum samples from symptomatic lung cancer patients and controls (learning set: 73 cases, 86 controls; validation set: 159 cases, 154 controls) by quantitative methylation-specific PCR. Three statistical models were used: (i) cutoff based on Youden's J index, (ii) cutoff based on fixed specificity per marker of 96% and (iii) risk classification of post-test probabilities.Results:In the learning set, approach (i) showed that RASSF1A was best able to distinguish cases from controls (sensitivity 42.5%, specificity 96.5%). RASSF1A, 3OST2 and PRDM14 combined demonstrated a sensitivity of 82.2% with a specificity of 66.3%. Approach (ii) yielded a combination rule of RASSF1A, 3OST2 and PHACTR3 (sensitivity 67.1%, specificity 89.5%). The risk model (approach iii) distributed the cases over all risk categories. All methods displayed similar and consistent results in the validation set.Conclusions:Our findings underscore the impact of DNA methylation markers in symptomatic lung cancer diagnosis. RASSF1A is validated as diagnostic marker in lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives: Recently, a few studies have linked soft drink consumption to increased asthma risk, but the contribution of different types of soft drinks is unknown. We investigated cross-sectional associations between six different types of soft drinks and asthma in 11-year-old children.Subjects/methods: We analyzed data of 2406 children participating in the Dutch Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy birth cohort. At age 11, children self-reported consumption of sugar-added drinks, diet drinks, sweetened milk drinks, 100% fruit juice, energy drinks and sport drinks. The definition of asthma was based on parental reports of wheezing, prescription of inhaled corticosteroids and doctor's diagnosis of asthma.Results: The prevalence of asthma in this study was 5.8%. In adjusted logistic regression analyses, asthma risk was increased for high (⩾10 glasses/week (gl/wk) versus low (<4 gl/wk) consumption of 100% fruit juice (odds ratio (OR): 2.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21-3.60), sugar-added drinks (OR: 1.56, 95%CI: 0.95-2.56) and for very high (>21.5 gl/wk) versus low (<12.5 gl/wk) total sugar-containing beverage (SCB) consumption (OR: 1.91, 95%CI: 1.04-3.48). Consumption of other beverages and consumption of fruit were not associated with increased asthma risk. No evidence for mediation of the observed associations by body mass index was found.Conclusions: This study indicates that high consumption of 100% fruit juice and total SCBs is associated with increased asthma risk in children. The positive association between consumption of 100% fruit juice and asthma is an unexpected finding that needs confirmation in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives:Recently, a few studies have linked soft drink consumption to increased asthma risk, but the contribution of different types of soft drinks is unknown. We investigated cross-sectional associations between six different types of soft drinks and asthma in 11-year-old children.Subjects/methods:We analyzed data of 2406 children participating in the Dutch Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy birth cohort. At age 11, children self-reported consumption of sugar-added drinks, diet drinks, sweetened milk drinks, 100% fruit juice, energy drinks and sport drinks. The definition of asthma was based on parental reports of wheezing, prescription of inhaled corticosteroids and doctor's diagnosis of asthma.Results:The prevalence of asthma in this study was 5.8%. In adjusted logistic regression analyses, asthma risk was increased for high (⩾10 glasses/week (gl/wk) versus low (<4 gl/wk) consumption of 100% fruit juice (odds ratio (OR): 2.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21-3.60), sugar-added drinks (OR: 1.56, 95%CI: 0.95-2.56) and for very high (>21.5 gl/wk) versus low (<12.5 gl/wk) total sugar-containing beverage (SCB) consumption (OR: 1.91, 95%CI: 1.04-3.48). Consumption of other beverages and consumption of fruit were not associated with increased asthma risk. No evidence for mediation of the observed associations by body mass index was found.Conclusions:This study indicates that high consumption of 100% fruit juice and total SCBs is associated with increased asthma risk in children. The positive association between consumption of 100% fruit juice and asthma is an unexpected finding that needs confirmation in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer has the highest mortality of all cancers. The aim of this study was to examine DNA hypermethylation in sputum and validate its diagnostic accuracy for lung cancer.Methods: DNA hypermethylation of RASSF1A, APC, cytoglobin, 3OST2, PRDM14, FAM19A4 and PHACTR3 was analysed in sputum samples from symptomatic lung cancer patients and controls (learning set: 73 cases, 86 controls; validation set: 159 cases, 154 controls) by quantitative methylation-specific PCR. Three statistical models were used: (i) cutoff based on Youden's J index, (ii) cutoff based on fixed specificity per marker of 96% and (iii) risk classification of post-test probabilities.Results: In the learning set, approach (i) showed that RASSF1A was best able to distinguish cases from controls (sensitivity 42.5%, specificity 96.5%). RASSF1A, 3OST2 and PRDM14 combined demonstrated a sensitivity of 82.2% with a specificity of 66.3%. Approach (ii) yielded a combination rule of RASSF1A, 3OST2 and PHACTR3 (sensitivity 67.1%, specificity 89.5%). The risk model (approach iii) distributed the cases over all risk categories. All methods displayed similar and consistent results in the validation set.Conclusions: Our findings underscore the impact of DNA methylation markers in symptomatic lung cancer diagnosis. RASSF1A is validated as diagnostic marker in lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The P̄ANDA detection system at FAIR, Germany, is designed to study antiproton-proton annihilations, in order to investigate, among others, the realm of charm-meson states and glueballs, which has still much to reveal. The yet unknown properties of this field are to be unraveled through studying QCD phenomena in the non-perturbative regime. The multipurpose P̄ANDA detector will be capable of tracking, calorimetry, and particle identification, and is planned to run at high luminosities providing average reaction rates up to 2 · 10 interactions/s. The envisaged physics program requires measurements of photons and charged particles with excellent energy, position, and time resolutions. The electromagnetic calorimeter (EMC) will serve as one of the basic components of the detector setup and comprises cooled lead-tungstate (PbWO) crystals. This paper presents the mechanical design of the Forward End-cap calorimeter and analyzes the response of the Forward End-cap calorimeter in conjunction with the full EMC and the complete P̄ANDA detector. The simulation studies are focused on the performance of the planned EMC with respect to the energy and spatial resolution of the reconstructed photons. Results of the Monte Carlo simulations, excluding very low-energy photons, have been validated by data obtained from a prototype calorimeter and shown to fulfil the requirements imposed by the P̄ANDA physics program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common policy response to the rise in obesity prevalence is to undertake interventions in childhood, but it is an open question whether this is more effective than reducing the risk of becoming obese during adulthood. In this paper, we model the effect on health outcomes of (i) reducing the prevalence of obesity when entering adulthood; (ii) reducing the risk of becoming obese throughout adult life; and (iii) combinations of both approaches. We found that, while all approaches reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases and improve life expectancy, a given percentage reduction in obesity prevalence achieved during childhood had a smaller effect than the same percentage reduction in the risk of becoming obese applied throughout adulthood. A small increase in the probability of becoming obese during adulthood offsets a substantial reduction in prevalence of overweight/obesity achieved during childhood, with the gains from a 50% reduction in child obesity prevalence offset by a 10% increase in the probability of becoming obese in adulthood. We conclude that both policy approaches can improve the health profile throughout the life course of a cohort, but they are not equivalent, and a large reduction in child obesity prevalence may be reversed by a small increase in the risk of becoming overweight or obese in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide ( FeNO) is a surrogate biomarker of the degree of eosinophilic airway inflammation. Using longitudinal latent class analysis, five wheezing phenotypes have been identified, characterized by different ages of onset and prognosis. Objectives To assess FeNO measured at 4 and 8 years in children with different phenotypes of wheeze and atopy. Methods Children participated in the Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy ( PIAMA) study, a prospective birth cohort in the Netherlands. Respiratory health was assessed yearly by questionnaires until the age of 8 years; these data were used to identify five wheezing phenotypes. Associations between FeNO and wheezing phenotypes were investigated using weighted linear regression. Results Data on wheezing phenotypes and FeNO at 4 and 8 years were available in 588 and 973 children respectively. Compared with the phenotype of never and transient wheeze, FeNO at 4 years was higher in intermediate onset and persistent wheeze. FeNO at 8 years of age differed significantly between all phenotypes, with highest FeNO values for persistent, intermediate onset, and late onset wheeze. Rise in FeNO from 4 to 8 years in intermediate and late onset wheezers was significantly higher compared to FeNO rise in never and transient wheezers. Stratified analyses showed that the increase in FeNO in persistent, intermediate, and late onset wheeze was only present in children with allergic sensitization at 8 years. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance The FeNO measured at 8 years was associated with specific wheezing phenotypes, only among atopic children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Gene variants on chromosome 17q12-21 are associated with an increased risk of childhood-onset asthma, a risk known to be modified by environmental tobacco smoke ( ETS). Objectives To assess whether the association of rs2305480 on chromosome 17q12 in the GSDML gene with asthma-like symptoms in the first 4 years of life is modified by smoke exposure during fetal and early postnatal life. Methods We used data from two independent prospective cohort studies from fetal life onwards in the Netherlands. We genotyped rs2305480 and assessed maternal smoking during pregnancy and ETS exposure at the age of 2. Asthma-like symptoms, defined as any reported wheezing, shortness of breath or dry nocturnal cough, were reported by parents when the children were 1, 2, 3, and 4 years. Analyses were based on a total group of 4461 Caucasian children. Results The G risk-allele of rs2305480 was associated with asthma-like symptoms [overall odds ratio 1.17 (1.11, 1.24), 2.66E-9]. The effect of rs2305480 on asthma-like symptoms was stronger among children who were exposed to smoke during fetal life ( P-interaction = 0.04). Smoke exposure in early postnatal life was also associated with an increased effect of the 17q12 single nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP) on asthma-like symptoms ( P-interaction = 5.06E-4). These associations were consistent in both cohorts. Conclusion A 17q12 variant, rs2305480, was associated with asthma-like symptoms in preschool children, and this association was modified by smoke exposure already during fetal life, and in infancy. Further investigation regarding SNPs in linkage disequilibrium with rs2305480 in relation to pathophysiological pathways is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]